The word was out about Just Wonderful (Dansili {GB}), whose dam Wading (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) had been so impressive when winning Newmarket’s G2 Rockfel S. on what proved to be her last start in 2013, but a late drift to 9-2 second favouritism suggested she would need this introduction every bit as much as her stable’s other juveniles. Keen initially after a sharp break, the bay was settled behind the leaders racing among the far-side group as the field split into two. Sent forward with two furlongs remaining, she was notably green out on her own but still managed a neck winning margin over the stand’s side’s best Lethal Promise (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). That sounds far from exciting, but there was over five lengths back to the next filly racing in her group and her trainer was excited afterwards.

“We thought she was a lovely filly and just let her go a bit last week and she worked really well,” commented Aidan O’Brien, who had introduced Clemmie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in this last year. “You’re never sure when they have never been on the grass and she was just ready to come racing, but Ryan was very happy with her. After that, we have to look at Royal Ascot and the [June 22 G3] Albany is the obvious race. She must be natural in herself to do that if the others are anything to go on. She should improve and when Ryan rode her dam at Newmarket all those years ago he always though she was one of the best he ever rode. We couldn’t be happier.”

Just Wonderful is the third foal out of Wading and the first winner, with a yearling half-brother by War Front to follow. The dam is a daughter of Ballydoyle’s G3 Blue Wind S. runner-up Cherry Hinton (GB) (Green Desert) who was fifth in the G1 Epsom Oaks and also produced the stable’s G1 Irish Oaks and G2 Ribblesdale S. heroine Bracelet (Ire)–who like Wading was by Montjeu–as well as last week’s Listed Newbury Fillies’ Trial runner-up Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). It hardly needs mentioning that Cherry Hinton is a half to the legendary Sea the Stars (Ire) and Galileo (Ire), as well as My Typhoon (Ire) (Giant’s Causeway) and Born To Sea (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Wading was bred to American Pharoah for 2018.